Average power rating of opponents played: ARIZONA 23, SAN FRANCISCO 22.7

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

ARIZONA - Season Results

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Team Stats

Opp Stats

Date

Opponent

Score

SU

Line

ATS

Tot.

O/U

Rushing

Passing

TO

Rushing

Passing

TO

11/4/2012

@ GREEN BAY

17-31

L

10.5

L

43

O

18-54

23-46-286

2

39-176

14-30-208

1

11/18/2012

@ ATLANTA

19-23

L

9

W

43.5

U

26-137

11-27-41

1

24-58

28-46-296

6

11/25/2012

ST LOUIS

17-31

L

-1.5

L

36

O

23-74

31-52-301

4

34-173

8-18-194

1

12/2/2012

@ NY JETS

6-7

L

6.5

W

37

U

21-81

10-31-56

1

43-177

15-28-112

4

12/9/2012

@ SEATTLE

0-58

L

10

L

36

O

16-43

19-39-111

8

42-284

12-22-209

1

12/16/2012

DETROIT

38-10

W

5.5

W

43.5

O

29-99

14-21-97

1

22-84

24-50-228

4

12/23/2012

CHICAGO

13-28

L

6.5

L

35.5

O

19-29

28-49-219

3

33-152

12-26-145

1

12/30/2012

@ SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO - Season Results

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Team Stats

Opp Stats

Date

Opponent

Score

SU

Line

ATS

Tot.

O/U

Rushing

Passing

TO

Rushing

Passing

TO

11/11/2012

ST LOUIS

24-24

T

-13.5

L

37.5

O

34-183

18-25-158

0

37-159

28-41-299

1

11/19/2012

CHICAGO

32-7

W

-3.5

W

34

O

29-123

16-23-232

0

28-85

14-22-58

2

11/25/2012

@ NEW ORLEANS

31-21

W

-3

W

50

O

31-144

16-25-231

2

21-59

26-41-231

2

12/2/2012

@ ST LOUIS

13-16

L

-7.5

L

41

U

36-148

21-32-191

1

27-85

26-39-208

0

12/9/2012

MIAMI

27-13

W

-11

W

38.5

O

28-155

18-23-166

0

22-94

17-33-133

1

12/16/2012

@ NEW ENGLAND

41-34

W

4

W

47.5

O

39-180

14-25-203

2

24-95

36-65-425

4

12/23/2012

@ SEATTLE

13-42

L

3

L

40.5

O

19-82

19-36-231

2

39-176

15-22-170

1

12/30/2012

ARIZONA

KEY GAME INFORMATION

ARIZONA: The Cards have largely given up on establishing the run because of their tendency to fall behind early in games. But their power running game, featuring a man-blocking scheme and between-the-tackles pounding, still remains. Beanie Wells was moderately effective last year, though they'd rather have Ryan Williams taking a large portion of the carries as long as he's recovered from knee surgery. Arizona largely runs out of its two-receiver sets, with an even split between two tight ends and fullback Anthony Sherman. The Cards get conservative in the red zone, where Wells gets a heavy workload and should continue to for as long as he's able to remain healthy. Kevin Kolb will get another shot in the desert. The Cardinals got much more aggressive throwing downfield last season, especially letting Larry Fitzgerald battle for the 50/50 ball. They can do the same thing on the other side once rookie Michael Floyd is ready. They usually throw out of three-receiver sets, and while the No. 2 (Floyd or Andre Roberts) gets more reps, the Cards throw to the slot (Roberts or Early Doucet) underneath just as often. Even after the addition of Todd Heap, the tight ends were used sparingly. When they throw in the red zone, Fitzgerald is almost always the first look, and they'll often force it to him even in double-coverage. The slot receiver over the middle is usually the second option down near the goal line. Partly because its subpar offense kept its defense on the field for the third-most minutes in the NFL, Arizona's yardage allowed was mediocre. Although the points and sacks improved significantly, the defense did not score in 2011. DL Calais Campbell has put together four strong seasons since becoming a starter for the Cardinals. He does a nice job picking up blocking schemes and knows how to use his hands in traffic. Darnell Dockett remains one of the NFL's better defensive linemen despite the fact that his sack numbers continue to decline. Daryl Washington is a bit undersized for an inside linebacker, but he moves like a defensive back. It could be argued that Patrick Peterson's contributions on special teams last season (four return touchdowns) were more than offset by his inability to cover. Opposing quarterbacks will likely continue to attack him until he improves: He was targeted 112 times last season, a total that ranked third in the NFL.

SAN FRANCISCO: Despite adding firepower to their receiving corps, the Niners offense will still be based on the power running game. Their scheme is almost exclusively man blocking and almost all between the tackles. Due to the presence of youngsters Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James, they're unlikely to run Frank Gore into the ground like they have in recent seasons. Assuming he beats out veteran Brandon Jacobs, Hunter is more of a traditional back-up, while James will be the change-of-pace back and should see a lot of his reps on passing downs. There's a good chance Jacobs will earn short-yardage duties. The Niners are also very run-heavy in the red zone, with Gore serving as the team's main option in goal-to-go situations. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have built a passing game that will work for quarterback Alex Smith. Most often Michael Crabtree is the first option, as they can get him isolated on the outside. Vernon Davis came on strong late once he picked up the offense, and he'll be used deeper down the middle of the field. Randy Moss will likely step into Braylon Edwards' seldom-used deep threat role. When they go three-wide, which is often, Mario Manningham will play the outside with Crabtree sliding into a slot. Crabtree is Smith's most frequent target in the red zone because of the attention Davis draws. The 49ers will, however, often force it to Davis in the middle of the field. The 49ers' defense is the complete package, with the league's best linebackers, a disruptive front four and an improving secondary. Justin Smith is arguably the NFL's most effective 3-4 DE'he's one of the best in the league at stopping the run and also has more pass-rushing ability than your average two-gap end, with 29.5 sacks over the past four seasons. The Niners' defensive scheme funnels ball carriers to Patrick Willis, which is why he consistently racks up more than 100 solo tackles per season. (He was on pace for 110 in 2011 before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 13.) Picking up the slack in Willis' absence was NaVorro Bowman, who was excellent in his first season as a starter. San Francisco also boasts an exceptional return game with speedy Ted Ginn Jr. one of those guys who's a threat to bring any returnable kick to the house. Ginn was obviously sorely missed in the NFC Championship Game, when ill-timed fumbles by second-string return man Kyle Williams essentially cost the 49ers a trip to the Super Bowl.

Not only did the San Francisco 49ers fail to clinch the NFC West title in their last game, they lost control of their ability to gain a first-round bye in the playoffs.

That could prove costly down the road given the number of key injuries the team has sustained.

The 49ers will try to bounce back from their worst loss under Jim Harbaugh in their second chance to clinch the division Sunday at home against an Arizona Cardinals team plagued by season-long quarterback problems.

San Francisco (10-4-1) fell 42-13 at Seattle last Sunday. The 49ers' lead over the Seahawks in the West was cut to one-half game, meaning that a victory over Arizona (5-10) or a Seattle loss to St. Louis is still needed for playoff-bound San Francisco to earn a second straight West crown.

Perhaps more importantly, San Francisco fell one-half game behind NFC North champion Green Bay in the race for the No. 2 seed and a bye. The 49ers now must win and hope the Packers lose in Minnesota in order to gain that slot.

The week off could have been critical because numerous 49ers are battling injuries.

Defensive lineman Justin Smith's streak of 185 straight starts ended when he sat out against the Seahawks with an elbow injury. Harbaugh has not fully disclosed his status.

Tight end Vernon Davis practiced for the second straight day Friday but has yet to clear the league's NFL concussion protocol after getting hit hard by Seattle safety Kam Chancellor. Wide receiver Mario Manningham, previously bothered by a shoulder injury, limped out of the locker room Monday on crutches and is out for the season with torn knee ligaments.

Harbaugh is counting on the depth of his team to overcome these injuries.

"I feel our team's leadership, I feel the intellect of the staff, I think the talent of the players, the work ethic of the players will pave the way," Harbaugh said.

The 49ers are heavily favored to hand the Cardinals a seventh straight road loss. Arizona's 1-10 slide since a 4-0 start has raised questions about the status of sixth-year coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Whisenhunt will give Brian Hoyer his first NFL start Sunday, making him the fourth quarterback to start for Arizona this season. Kevin Kolb remains out with a rib injury, and Ryan Lindley and John Skelton have been ineffective.

Hoyer, acquired off waivers Dec. 10, went 11 of 19 for 105 yards and an interception after replacing Lindley during last week's 28-13 loss to Chicago, the Cardinals' sixth straight game without a touchdown pass.

"There's no question that we've got to have more consistency from the quarterback position, that's the No. 1 thing," Whisenhunt said Monday. "You look at last night's (Seattle-San Francisco) game and what a difference Russell Wilson has made in Seattle with all the plays that he makes. That's what you have to have."

Hoyer was cut by New England before this season and signed by Pittsburgh on Nov. 20. He never played for the Steelers, who cut him two days before the Cardinals picked him up.

"Anytime you're out there on the field, it's your resume," Hoyer said. "You have to go out there and take advantage of every opportunity you're given. In New England I didn't get many opportunities to get on the field."

The expectations don't seem to be too high at that position for Whisenhunt, whose team has the league's fifth-highest turnover total with 32. Opponents have scored 49 points directly off Cardinals' offensive turnovers to tie them with Philadelphia for the highest total in that category.

The Cardinals allowed two such scores last week.

"I think the thing that's been the hardest is the turnovers, especially the turnovers for points," Whisenhunt said. "You can't overcome those things, not every week."

The Cardinals have been outscored 85-23 in losing three straight at San Francisco, and fell 24-3 at home to the 49ers on Oct. 29 when Skelton was the starter. Alex Smith was the Niners' starter then and went 18 of 19 for 232 yards, three scores and a near-perfect passer rating of 157.1.

Colin Kaepernick has taken over since, and he turned in his worst effort as a starter last week by completing 19 of 36 passes for 244 yards, one TD and one interception.

Niners linebacker Aldon Smith has not recorded a sack in his last two games. He has an NFC-best 19.5 - three shy of the NFL record set by the Giants' Michael Strahan in 2002.